In a Friday memo, Leslie Taito, who is director of Chafee's Office of Regulatory Reform, said her last day will be Jan. 9.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here at OMB and sincerely proud of the accomplishments that ORR has achieved in short period of time," wrote Taito, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "I know that the amazing and talented staff of OMB and ORR will continue to work to implement Governor Chafee's plan and achieve a clear predictable and reliable regulatory system in Rhode Island."

Prior to joining the Chafee administration in the fall of 2011, Taito was executive director of the nonprofit Rhode Island Manufacturing Extension Service.

In August 2013, Taito's office issued the first report in what was expected to be a multipart review of the state's business regulations.

The review, initially focused on 1,642 regulations that affect small businesses, was undertaken with an eye towards possibly repealing or revising the most onerous ones.

The effort stemmed from a law the General Assembly passed in 2012 requiring state agencies to review 25 percent of their regulations each year for four years until all regulations affecting small businesses have been evaluated.

Chafee, who is not seeking reelection in 2014, signed the bill into law, but accelerated the process, telling agencies to complete their reviews within 19 months.

The 53-page August report was to be the first of four leading up to a final report -- with recommendations -- to be completed in 2014.

It was unknown Friday who Chafee would choose to lead that effort.

Taito has taken a position as senior vice president for new business development at industrial fabric maker Hope Global in Cumberland.

"This is really just one of those opportunities I've been looking for my whole career," Taito told The Journal on Friday.